Captain Shimmin’s Reserves

Want to get paid up to £3,850 to go on a ski trip worth £5,500? Members of the Isle of Man Army Reserve return on Monday following four weeks skiing in Austria.

Harry Shimmin, Tom Lothian, and Connor Casey (pictured) of the Royal Engineers Manx Troop return on Monday following four weeks of downhill resort skiing, paid for by the Army.

Captain Harry Shimmin, who made headlines earlier this year for surviving an avalanche in Kyrgyzstan, organised the yearly trip to Stubai, Austria.

The Army covers all costs from the trip, including accommodation in Austria, Stubai lift pass, Advanced ski tuition for any ability, Food, transport, and ski/equipment hire. The Army Reserve rates of pay can be found on their website. However, this pay rate is increased when time is spent outside of the UK, meaning that up to £3,850.60 can be earnt for a month on the slopes.

“Exercise Alpine Sapper” is a 4 week-long ski trip which runs yearly and is made available to skiing experts and novices alike. The Army frequently invests in sport and “Adventurous Training”, meaning ski trips and expeditions such as this are made readily available once you join.

The Manx Troop, which is part of wider 75 Engineer Regiment is looking for new people from across the whole community to join them for training nights. The Regiment is open to men and women aged from 18-50 years old. They meet every Tuesday from 7pm at the Army Reserve Centre on Lord Street.

Earlier this year, members of the Regiment, which recruits from across the whole NW region, headed to both Germany and the Caribbean for training exercises. Army Reservists work flexible hours in their spare time and are paid for all the time they can commit. Captain Harry Shimmin, who recently switched from full time “Regular Army” to Reservist, now commands the Troop based on the island.

He says ’75 Engineer Regiment offers the same great opportunities as the Regular Army, such as overseas travel, civilian qualifications, and adventure, without the full-time commitment. Come and visit us or get in touch if you are interested in a new challenge’.

Manx born Captain Shimmin is keen to recruit more people to the Troop on the island. After attending Ramsey Grammar School and subsequently university, Harry joined the Army full time, commissioning from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2018. He has since served in the Royal Engineers, commanding troops both in the UK and on operations in Iraq. Earlier in July this year, Harry appeared on BBC news and ITV’s “This Morning” after he recorded a video of an avalanche coming towards him in while hiking in Kyrgyzstan.